Charging Through Difficult Terrain

Right, let's try and have another rules debate as i find this is a fundamental rule that has too much ambiguity within it. I just want to seek your opinions and not have it about how much GW writing skills makes us want to rip each others faces off

The question is, when is it required to make difficult terrain rolls when charging. It states that when a model "has to" move through difficult terrain, then they must take the test. But with random charge distances, how would one know if a model has to make the test or not before the distance is even determined.

The thread here describes in much better detail what i'm trying to ask, please read.

Page 22 ¬ Charge Move, Charging Through Difficult Terrain.Change the first sentence to read “If, when charging, one ormore models have to move through difficult terrain in order toreach the enemy by the shortest possible route, the unit mustmake a Difficult Terrain test (see page 90).”

Personally i think we should include Nurgling Chieftain's solution as a house ruling. But of course i'd like to see what the rest of us think on the matter

Page 22 ¬ Charge Move, Charging Through Difficult Terrain.Change the first sentence to read “If, when charging, one ormore models have to move through difficult terrain in order toreach the enemy by the shortest possible route, the unit mustmake a Difficult Terrain test (see page 90).”

Just check shortest routes and you know. The shortest route will always be a straight line (unless there is other unit or impassable terrain).

What about the diagram examples from the link i posted. When the terrain is between the 2 units, it will usually be very obvious. It's when the terrain is to the side of the unit, or models furthest back are in terrain while the remainder are not.

I would say (which is for me against logic but it's like rule says) - they go through difficult terrain as long as the line isn't longer than 12 inches (or max charge distance) because you have to try maximize the number of models in b2b. So they have to go around unit. The roll is done later.

Edit:The answer from Chapters Unwritten to Nurgling Chieftain post is pretty much the same as what I think:

To me, that diagram makes it obvious, along with the rule that you must try to engage as many models in solo base to base as possible before stacking up: while you do not know the range, you DO know that you must attempt to engage, in single base contact, every model possible. So you have to roll difficult terrain for that charge. In order to do that, you must pass the terrain.

Ok so in short what you're saying is that as long as a unit is charging another unit, one or more models is within 12" of engaging an enemy model that will have difficult terrain in their shortest path, then the whole unit must test for difficult terrain.

I believe both solutions fully abide by the ruling and that is where the ambiguity is.

I will make a poll soon and everyone will be able to vote on what they think should be the ruling

Now because some of the reds have to go through terrain to engage each model, the whole unit must take a difficult terrain test.

If that's the case i can foresee lots of dicking around with model placement (even more so than now) to exploit rulings. Nurgling Chieftains method seems less fussy, speeds up the game more and cancels out having an extended argument as to whether you'd need to roll for difficult terrain or not in the first place.

Vangeleon wrote:i can see the point that bottom left may need to go round models to engage an enemy model. however that doesnt have to be the case as he can default to simplying being within 2" of an engaged model

Not according to rule saying that you have to engage as many free enemy models as possible. You cannot simplify it to be within 2".

“If possible a charging model must move into base contact with an enemy model within reach that is not already in base contact with another charging model. If there are no enemy models in reach the model must move into base contact with an enemy model that is already in base contact with a charging model.” (6th Ed. BRB Pg. 21)

My head also blew up when i read the rules conundrum (fecal dump) that this is.

After i've glued it together i will try and make some sense of it. But i think that the 1st choice above follows a sensible approach and adds excitement as you wont know what that third dice result is.

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